Iran largely cuts controversial nuclear fuel stockpile: IAEA

VIENNA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran has cut its most sensitive nuclear stockpile by over 70 percent, a UN nuclear watchdog report revealed on Wednesday.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s monthly report, Iran is complying with its commitment under the November interim deal made with world six major states, cutting some of its most sensitive nuclear activities in six month while the western states eased some sanctions in return, buying time for negotiation over a final deal of Tehran's nuclear issue.

The development makes Iran relatively less potential to accumulate enough fuel for a nuclear weapon.

IAEA is taking the role of monitoring Iran's implementation of the interim deal.

Western states want Iran to significantly scale back its nuclear plan to meet their concern over Tehran's nuclear program, and Iran hopes to have sanctions relieved.

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States has taken steps to release a 450-million-U.S. dollar installment of Iran's frozen funds as part of an interim deal on Tehran's nuclear program, the State Department said on Thursday.

The United States took the move after a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran has completed the dilution of the agreed amount of 20 percent enriched Uranium, as stipulated in the deal it reached with world powers in November. Full story